Automatic zeroizing device for dispensing pumps



Oct. 11, 1938. w. MARDEN 3 7 AUTOMATIC ZEROIZING DEVICE FOR DISPENSING PUMPS Filed June 2, 1936 H WHQ INVENT OR 1797710211 Z. Hardy/1 BY 474444 4! d I ATTORNEYS Patented Oct. 11,1938

ZEROIZING DEVICE Foams- PENSING P Mrs B AUTOMATIC PATENT OFFICE William L. Marden, Jackson Heights, rim-g mans N. Y., assignor to Neptune Meter Company, a corporation of. New Jersey v Application June 2,1936, SerlaLNo; 83,03; 17 claims. (ol.1221--95) The presentinvention relates to control mechanisms for dispensing devices of the type com-"- monly used in gasoline filling stations.

This type of gasoline dispensing device consists of a pump, usually operated by an electric motor, which forces the liquid to a meter of any one of a number of types, the meter operating a register which indicates the quantity of fluid or the cost of the fluid dispensed in each dispensing operation. The registers of these dispensingdevices are usually provided with a means for returning them to zero position after a dispensing operation is concluded so that the amount of liquid dispensed in a subsequent dispensing operation will accurately be indicated on theregister.

Some of' the resetting mechanisms which are used'with dispensing pumps are merely manually operated handles or knobs connected to the registering indicator. Others interlock with the switch controlling the pump motor, and are so arranged that the motor and pump cannot be started until the register has reacher zero posi- -tion.

Some of the interlocking types of resetting mechanism's'useweight or spring operated'means toreturn theindicator to zero. These resetting mechanisms act simultaneously with'return of the indicator toward zero positionor subsequent thereto, to initiate operation of the pump; In this type of device the spring or weight actuated mechanism is directly connected to the register and because the register is driven directly by the meter, the" energy for lifting the weight or' winding the spring must be derived from the meter. As a'res'ult; because ot the increased resistance'to movement of the elements of the meter, itihas been found that there is some slippage of liquid in the meter and the meter is rendered inaccurate in operation.

The present invention includesjan automatic means for resetting the indicator whichrelieves the meter. of the loadv of supplying the energy which is later used in the resetting operation,

and overcomes the necessity of providing manually actuated means for returning the indicator to zero. g p

My resetting mechanism preferably is so arranged with relation. to the pump actuating means or motor, that movement of one control member sequentially causes the indicatorto be reset andv the pump to be startedto dispense liquid. The single control which causesthis sequential operation may also act asa means for supplying energy to theresetting mechanismim dependently oi the mgterand thus relieves the meter of the load of supplying the energy to the energy storing means. e I

More specifically a preferred form of the invcntion includes the use of afiywheel which is actuated by a spring urged rack member, the flywheel being connected to the register only during the resetting operation and being released from the register during a dispensing operation so that the meter may drive the register entirely independently of the operation of the flywheel. Inorder to provide a means for automatically placing the rack under spring tension, the usual hose support is constructed to'move the rack against'the tension of the spring when the hose is placed upon the hose support-at the conclusion of a dispensing operationhf -"I'he hose support is also utilized in its movement to move a switch through which electric energy 'is supplied to the motorto off and on position, thereby controlling the operation of thepump.

For a better understanding of the presentinvention, reference may be had to the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is a view of a dispensing pump, partly in section and partly brokenaway showing typical automatic resetting and pump actuating means embodying the present invention; Figure 2 is a view insection and partly broken awayQtaken on line 2-70! Figure 1;

Figure 3 is an enlarged view 01 a gear train adapted for use in theresetting mechanism of Figure 1, and a r Figured is-a view in secti0n,'taken'0n line 4- -4 of Figure}. I I 1,,

Illustrative of the invention, Figure 1 discloses a dispensing pump'having a housing and framework A. Mounted inthe housing A is a pump 2, actuated by a motor 4 for forcingliquid from a source of supply-(not shown) to a meter 6, for

measuring. the liquid as it passes therethrough tor pointer, thereby moving-the latter around 1 the dial I6 in accordance'with the flow of the, liquid. ,Themeter 6 is connected to the indicator shaft 12. by means of a friction clutch (not shown), in order that the indicator shaft l2 may be moved when the meteri is stopped, for re:

turning indicator hand M to its initial or zero,

position. 1 i

In order to return the indicator hand H, to

zero position, after a dispensing operation has been completed, a support I8 for the hose nozzle I0 is utilized as a control means, although other means may be utilized with equal facility. Hose support I8 is pivotally mounted for oscillatory movement in framework A and carries at its inner end a telescoping relatively slidable extension 20. When the hose nozzle I0 is removed from support I6, and the support I8 is forced upwardly, extension 20 moves downwardly and hook 22 pivotally mounted on pin 23 on extension 26 is swung counterclockwise out of engagement with triangular lug 24 on rack 26 by tension spring 28 against the stop 29 on the extension. Further downward movement of extension 20 causes it to strike pin 36 on link 32 and to rock bell crank lever 34 clockwise about its pivot 36, thereby displacing latch 38 from beneath lug 40- on rack 26. The rack is then moved downwardly by tension spring 42 and is guided in its movement by guide plate 44 and by engagement with idler pinion 46 fixed to shaft 48 which also carries a flywheel 50.

Rack 26 is provided with teeth 52 along only a portion of its length, a portion 54 of the upper end of the rack being left blank, so that downward movement of the rack spins the flywheel 56 by engagement of rack teeth 52 with pinion 46, until the blank portion 54 moves adjacent the pinion 46, after which the flywheel 56 continues to spin of its own inertia. At the same time the pivoted hook 22 is moved into position beneath the triangular lug 24 by the spring pressed cam I64, to connect the arm 20 to the slide 26 for returning the same.

As the flywheel 5,0 spins, it rotates through idler pinion 46, the gear 56 fixed to one end of shaft 58 and crown gear 66 fixed to the opposite end of shaft 58. Crown gear 60 in turn rotates pinions 62, 64 and 66 which are. mounted in shafts 68, I0 and 1-2 respectively, extending between plates I4 and 16. The construction and operation of this mechanism is substantially the same as that shown in the copending application of Charles S. Hazard, Serial No. 747,379, now Patent No, 2,126,645 granted June 14, 1938. Plates I4 and I6 are pivotally mounted on shaft 68 so that they are capable of oscillation about said shaft. As crown gear 60 rotates, itturns pinions 62, 64 and 66 and causes the plates 14 and I6 to swing in a counterclockwise direction so that pinion 66 engages and meshes with gear I8 frictionally mounted on indicator shaft l2, thus returning the indicator hand towards zero. Oscillation of the plates I4, I6 and the pinions .64 and 66, is brought about by means of friction plates and 82 mounted on shaft I2 between the pinion 66 and the plates I4 and I6 respectively, thereby creating a resistance to the rotation of pinion 66 and causing the entire pinion train to swing. The plates I4 and I6 are provided with flared edges 84 and 86 for guiding the pinion 66 into engagement with gear I8, and they are held in close frictional engagement with the gear 66 by means of a bifurcated spring member 88 engageable with plate I4 and a groove 89 in shaft I2.

When the indicator hand I4 returns to zero, it is stopped by engagement of a single-tooth ratchet 90 fixed on shaft I2 with a pawl 92 carried by the dial I6. As the latter part of the resetting operation may be largely effected by the free rotation of flywheel 56, the excess energy is dissipated in the frictional mounting of gear I8 on shaft I2.

Movement of hose support I8 may also be utilized to start the motor 4 driving pump 2. AS

the extension 20 continues to move downwardly it'engages pin 94 on slide 96 guided in bore 98 on the frame A. Downward movement of slide 86 is transmitted through link I60 to switch I62 moving it to on position and actuating the motor 4 and pump 2 to force fluid through the meter 6 as previously described.

In order to restore the resetting mechanism to the position disclosed in Figure 1, after a dispensing operation has taken place, the nozzle I0 need only be restored to support I8. With the extension 20 in its lowermost position, hook 22 pivotally mounted thereon is urged in a clockwise direction against the tension of spring 28 by spring urged cam I04 into engagement with triangular lug 24 on rack- 26. As the extension moves upwardly under the weight of hose 8 and dispensing nozzle I0, the rack 26 is lifted upwardly against the tension of spring 42 until the bell crank latch 38 engages under lug 40, thereby locking the rack 26 in its upper position, as shown in Figure 1. The extension 20 in its upward movement also engages lug I06 on slide 96, moving it upwardly and moving switch I62 to off position.

The extension 26 is guided in its upward and downward movements by straight parallel guide bars I08 (Figure 1), which engage opposite sides of pin 23 to translate the oscillatory movement of the extension 20 into a vertical straight line movement of its outer end.

It is believed that the operation of the device will be clear from the foregoing description, but a brief rsum of the sequence of operations taking place is as follows:

With the elements in the position shown in Figure 1, a dispensing operation has been completed, the motor 4 and pump 2 are not operating and the indicator hand I4 is at the reading of the quantity of liquid dispensed in the preceding operation.

To dispense a further quantity of liquid, the dispensing nozzle I0 is removed from the support I8, and the latter is forced upwardly, moving extension 20 downwardly. Hook 22 swings out-of engagement with triangular lug 24 and further downward movement of extension 20 trips latch 38,,releasing rack 26 for downward movement, thereby actuating the flywheel 56. The flywheel actuates gear trains 46, 56, 60, 62, 64, 66 and I8 to return the indicator hand I4 to zero position, the flywheel continuing to spin until the ratchet tooth 96 engages pawl 92 to stop the indicator hand I4 at zero position. The flywheel 56 is then brought to a stop by dissipation of energy through the frictional mounting of gear I8 on shaft l2. During the resetting operation just described, the indicator shaft I2 is permitted to move relatively to the meter 6, by the friction clutch connection between them.

Also immediately after the latch 40 has been tripped to initiate the resetting operation, further downward movement .of the extension causes the switch I02 to be moved to "on" position causing the motor 4 and pump 2 to operate. When the indicator hand reaches zero, the valve in the dispensing nozzle I 0 may be opened to dispense liquid.

When the nozzle I0 is returned to the support I8, hook 22 lifts rack 26 into the position shown in'Figure 1, permitting latch 68 to engage projection 40 to hold the rack in its raised position. At the same time the extension 20 engages pin I66 on slide 96 toraise the slide and move the switch to off" position.

The term inertia member, hereinafter used,

for the devices disclosed, and that there can be v 2,182,687 refers to a flywheel or a similar body having such mass that it will have sufflcient inertia after beingplaced in motion to return the indicater to zero position without the aid of. an exterior source of power. I

It will be apparent that there can be many uses variations in the construction of the various elements of the device, and therefore, the dis-. closure should be considered as illustrative only claims.

and not as limiting the scope of the appended I claim: L l 1. In a liquid dispensing device having a regis-. ter movable away froman initial position in proportion to the quantityv of liquid .dispensed;the

combination with the register of means for resettingtheregister to said initial position comprising, a flywheel operatively connected to the register during the resetting operation only, and,

means for energizing the flywheel at the beginning of the resetting operation.

l 2. ma liquid dispensingdevice having a register movableaway from initial position in proportion to the quantity of liquid dispensed; the

rcombination with the register of. means for re; setting the, register to said initial position comprising a flywheel operatively connected 'to the register during the resetting operation only, and

a spring urged, rack for rotatingthe. flywheel at the beginning of the. resetting operation.

I 3. In a liquid dispensing device having a register movable away from an initial'position in proportion to the quantity ofliquid dispensed; the combination with the registerof means for resetting the register to said initial position comprising a flywheel operatively connected to the indicator during the resetting operation only, ,a mevable rack. for rotatingthe flywheel at the beginning of the resetting operation, means urging the rack to rotate the flywheel and releasable means for latching the rack against ing means, means for resetting the register to 'said initial position including a flywheel operatively connected to theregister during the re-' setting operation only, releasable means for energizing the flywheel at the beginning of a I resetting operation, and means forflrst releasing the energizing means to reset the register to zero and then actuating the initiating means to operate the liquid forcing means.

5. In a liquid dispensing device having a register movable away from initial position in proportion to the quantity, of liquid dispensed; the combination with the register of means for resetting the register to said initial position comprising a flywheel, a movable rack operatively connected to the flywheel, means for moving the rack to rotate the flywheel, and means operative only during the resetting of the register to zero for connecting the flywheel to the register.

6. In a liquid dispensing device having a register movable away from an initial position in proportion to the quantity of liquid dispensed; the combination with the register of means for resetting the register to said initial position comprising a flywheel, energy storing means for rotating the flywheel, means operatively connecting the flywheel to the register only during the resetting operation, and manually operable means for supplying energy to the energy storing means.

7. In a liquid dispensing device having a meter, means. for forcing liquid through the meter and a register responsive to the operation of the meter movable away from an initial position in proportion to the quantity of liquid dispensed; the combination of means for resetting the register to said initial poistion comprising energy storing means operatively connected to theregister during the resetting operation only, and manually,

operable means for successively initiating operation of the. resetting means and liquid forcing means, and thereafter supplying energy to the energy storing means.

8. In a liquid dispensing device having means for forcing liquid and a register movable away from an initial position in proportion to the quantity of liquid dispensed; the combination of means for resetting the register tosaid initial position comprising energy storing means, operatively connected to the register during resetting only, and movable manually operable means for successively initiating operation of the energy storing and the fluid forcing means upon movement in one direction, and supplying energyto the energy storing means, and terminating operation of'the fluid forcing means on movement in the opposite direction.

9.- In a'resetting mechanism for registers, the combination of a register, and means for resetting the. register comprising an inertia member operatively connected to the register during resetting, energy-storing means for, energizing, the inertia member, and means for supplying energy .to and controlling operation of the energy-storing means. a a

110. In a resetting mechanism for a register, the combination of a register and means for resetting the register comprising an inertia member operatively connected to the register during resetting,

movableenergy-storing means for energizing the inertia member, means for retaining the energystoring means in energy-storing position and means for successively releasing the retaining means to allow the energy-storing means to energize the inertia memberand for restoring the energy-storing means to energy-storing position.

11. In a liquid dispensing device, the combination of a register movable away from an initial position in proportion to the'quantity of liquid dispensed, means for initiating a dispensing operation, and means for resetting the register to initial position prior to initiation of a dispensing operation comprising an inertia member operatively connected to the register during resetting, energy-storing means for energizing the inertia member, and means for successively supplying energy to and controlling operation of the energy-storing means and actuating the initiating means. i

12. In a liquid dispensing device having an indicator movable away from an initial position in proportion to the quantity of liquid dispensed; the combination of means for resetting the indicator to zero comprising energy storing means connected to the indicator only during the resetting operation, a latch for retaining the resetting means in energy storing position, means for actuating said latch to release said resetting means to reset said indicator to zero, said latch actuating means being operable to supply energy to said energy storing means after the indicator has been reset and to initiate a dispensing operation after actuating said latch.

13. In a liquid dispensing device, the combination of an indicator, means for initiating and terminating a dispensing operation, means for resetting the indicator comprising an inertia member, means for storing energy, means to release the energy storing means to actuate the inertia member and manually operable means operatively connected to the initiating and terminating means and to the releasing means for terminating a dispensing operation, supplying energy to said-energy storing means, releasing the energy storing means to reset the indicator and thereafter initiating a subsequent dispensing operation.

14. In a liquid dispensing device, having means for initiating and terminating a dispensing operation, an indicator movable away from an initial position in proportion to the liquid dispensed, means for resetting the indicator to the initial position, comprising energy storing means and coacting means for connecting and disconnecting said energy storing means to the indicator during resetting and dispensing operations, respectively, and a manually operable element operatively connected to said energy storing means and initiating means for successively and sequentially releasing the energy storing means to reset the indicator, initiating a dispensing operation, terminating a dispensing operation and re-engaging the energy storingmeans to restore same to energy-storing condition.

15. In a liquid dispensing device, the combination of an indicator movable away from an initial position in proportion to the quantity of liquid dispensed, means for initiating and terminating a dispensing operation, means for resetting the indicator to initial position comprising energystoring means and means for automatically connecting the energy-storing means to the indicator during resetting, and a manually operable element operatively connected to the initiating and terminating means and the resetting means for sequentially terminating a dispensing operation, supplying energy to the energy-storing means, actuating the energy-storing means to reset the indicator to initial position and initiate a dispensing operation.

16. In a liquid dispensing device, the combination or an indicator movable away from an initial position in proportion to the quantity of liquid dispensed, means for initiating and terminating a dispensing operation, means for resetting the indicator to initial position comprising a flywheel operatively connected to the indicator during resetting, means for energizing the fly-wheel at the beginning of a resetting operation and means operatively connected with the initiating and terminating means and the energizing means for terminating a dispensing operation and thereafter actuating the energizing means to reset the indicator to initial position prior to a subsequent dispensing operation.

1'7. In a liquid dispensing device, the combination of an indicator movable away from an initial position in proportion to the quantity of liquid dispensed, means for initiating a dispensing operaton, means for resetting the indicator to initial position comprising energy-storing means for supplying energy to reset the indicator to -initial position, means for releasably retaining the energy-storing means in energy-storing condition and a manually operable element operatively connected to the initiating means and the energy-storing means for supplying energy to the energy-storing means to place it in energy-storing condition under control of the retaining means and for successively releasing the retaining means to permit the energy-storing means to reset the indicator and actuating the initiating means.

WILLIAM L. MARDEN. 

